Biochemical and histological impacts of high doses of local and imported Nigella sativa administered to female rats

This study was conducted to compare between Syrian and Egyptian Nigella sativa [NS] seeds for some chemical characteristics, total phenolic contents; the percentage of the antioxidant activity and to evaluate the effect of high doses of NS crushed seeds or their extracted oils on some blood biochemical parameters as well as the architecture of liver and kidney tissues. The following results [on a dry- weight basis] were obtained for Syrian and Egyptian variety respectively, ash 3.21 and 4.57%, protein 22.3 and 22.4%, fixed oil 35.0 and 36.0%, carbohydrates 32.8 and 34.05% and essential oil 0.3 and 0.9%. The major unsaturated acids in the crude fixed oil extract of NS seeds were linoleic acid followed by oleic acid while palmitic acid was the main saturated fatty acid. The compositions of the essential oils, of the two examined samples contain the same constituents with different concentrations. Thymoquinone is more abundant in the Egyptian variety meanwhile, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, carvacrol, alpha- terpineol, eugenol, beta-caryophillene and cavone are more abundant in the Syrian variety. The blood biochemical results revealed that the supplementation of NS crushed seeds of the two varieties or their extracted oils, with high doses showed some changes on liver functions [ which evaluated by the hepatic enzymes activity assay of ALT and AST], lowering cholesterol and triglycerides levels and displayed no effect on albumin, total protein and urea levels. A significant increase in ALP enzymatic activity was obtained that could be attributed to the effect of progesterone hormone, whereas female rats were employed to conduct the biochemical study. Meanwhile, the histological examinations for liver and kidney tissues revealed pathological changes that could be attributed to the presence of high amount of thymoquinone, this finding could explain the significant increase in lipid proxidative index as evaluated in the term of plasma malondialdehyde [MDA] especially after the administration of the Egyptian variety of NS

possible correlation between the testicular structure and short photoperiod exposure in young albino rats: light and electron microscopic study

Light is considered as the first ecological factor affecting primary productivity. Several studies have attempted to relate between seasonal changed environmental light factors and the reproductive system. The influence of environmental light on the anatomy and physiology of different organs has been investigated intensely in a different species. Therefore, this research was designed to examine the effects of a short duration of light exposure on the histological structures of rat testes. Eighteen young male albino rats were divided into control [I] and experimental [II] groups. They were kept for 8 weeks in separate cages. The rats in group I were exposed daily to a normal lighting cycle of 12 h light and 12 h darkness. Light was provided by a 20-W 4-ft fluorescent lamp. Group II was exposed daily to 4 h of light and 20 h of darkness. They were housed in a small room. Its windows were covered with a black cotton material. At the end of the experiment, all rats were anaesthetized with ether, and their testes were dissected out and processed for light and electron microscopic examination. In group II, spermatogenic cells of some seminiferous tubules appeared separated and exfoliated. The other tubules were destroyed, with acidophilic hyaline material. Loss of germ cells was confirmed by a significantly low sperm count. Some germ cells showed a vacuolated cytoplasm and disrupted intercellular bridges with the formation of giant cells. Sertoli cells showed active phagocytic capacity with the appearance of multivesicular bodies. Hormonal assay showed a low significant testosterone level; this was supported by the presence of inactive spindle-shaped Leydig cells. The present study confirmed that rats were structurally and functionally photosensitive. Therefore, the changes in the normal photoperiod could influence their reproductive functions

Synthesis, characterization and RHFlab initio simulations of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole and its annulated ring junction pyrimidine derivatives

Michael addition reaction of the 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole to chalcone as biselectrophile - afforded 5,7-diphenyl-6-[1,3-diphenylpropan-1-on-3-yl][l,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-[a]pyrimidine [3] instead of 5,7-diphenyl-5H-[l,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine [5] via further Michael addition at C[5] in pyrimidine moiety. The structure 3 was established through the aspect of ab initio calculations, elemental analysis and spectral data

Improved antifibrotic effect of a combination of verapamil and silymarin in rat-induced liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis progresses to cirrhosis in several settings, for example, severe acute alcoholic hepatitis, and hepatitis C virus [HCV] reinfection after liver transplantation. Cirrhosis produces hepatocellular dysfunction, which is also a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. We studied verapamil as a prophylactic, therapeutic antifibrotic drug alone and in combination with silymarin in experimental rat's liver-induced fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced by intra-peritoneal injection of rats with pig serum 0.5 ml twice weekly for 6 weeks, which resulted in score three fibrosis. Prophylactic verapamil alone and silymarin alone and a combination of both were administered at the same time of induction of liver fibrosis and continued for the duration of induction. Therapeutic verapamil was started on the last day of fibrosis induction and continued for 4 weeks. The extent of liver fibrosis was evaluated using Ishak's fibrosis score. Serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] was measured for follow-up. Compared to fibrotic model rats, prophylactic verapamil, silymarin and combined verapamil plus silymarin significantly resulted in lower serum ALT levels. Prophylactic use of verapamil and silymarin each alone revealed score 2 fibrosis with positive alpha-SMA immunostaining; while prophylactic treatment with combined verapamil plus silymarin revealed no fibrosis supported by negative alpha-SMA immunostaining. Verapamil treated fibrotic rat's liver revealed significant regression in liver fibrosis scores with positive alpha-SMA immunostaining. Verapamil alone has a more significant prophylactic than therapeutic antifibrotic effect against induced liver fibrosis; it was more significant than silymarin. The combination of verapamil and silymarin, showed the best protection through their synergistic antifibrotic effect

Porphyrins profile by high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the diagnosis of porphyria

Porphyrias are a group of inherited or acquired disorders of certain enzymes in the heme bio-synthetic pathway. Most porphyria symptoms are nonspecific and occur intermittently; resulting frequently in missed diagnosis since the disease itself is a rare one. The aim of the study is to establish a new reliable and accurate laboratory method for separation, identification and quantitation of urinary porphyrins by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry [LC/MS/MS] and thereby the diagnosis of different porphyria types for the first time in Egypt. Screening by plasma fluorescence and quantitative determination of urinary porphyrins by high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry [HPLC/ESI/MS/MS] of 50 clinically suspected patients revealed one case of variegate porphyria and five cases of porphyria cutanea tarda. Plasma fluorescence scanning is a simple procedure that can be used as screening test to detect porphyria patients that require quantitation of urinary porphyrins as a second step. Quantitative determination of urinary porphyrins using HPLC/ESI/MS/MS and ion mapping techniques are applicable for the differential diagnosis of porphyria types, since each type has a characteristic porphyrins excretion profile. Quantitative determination of urinary porphyrins by HPLC/ESI/MS/MS used in this study is a modification for the method Stoev et al. while ion mapping technique is a new technique invented by the research team at the Biochemical Genetics Department

Sanjad-Sakati syndrome/Kenny-Caffey syndrome type 1: a study of 21 cases in Kuwait

We studied 21 patients with Sanjad-Sakati syndrome [SSS] from 16 families. Parental consanguinity was recorded in 2 families [12.5%]. All patients had severe intrauterine growth retardation, short stature, small hands and feet, blue sclera, deep-set eyes, microcephaly, persistent hypocalcaemia and hypoparathyroidism. Medullary stenosis was detected in 2 patients. Cytogenetic and fluorescent in situ hybridization studies were normal. All affected persons had homozygous deletion of 12 bp [155-166del] in exon 3 of the TBCE gene. All of the parents were heterozygous carriers of this mutation. The high frequency of SSS and low frequency of consanguineous marriages in this study may reflect a high rate of heterozygous carriers

Involvement of chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerosis: Importance of methodology in determination the relation between them

Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae [C. pneumoniae] in atherosclerotic vascular tissue to assess their role in atherogenesis, and also the choice of the best methodology for detection. Immunohistochemistry staining [IHC] for vascular tissue specimens were done on 34 atherosclerotic vascular tissues and 54 normal vascular tissues as controls [34 internal control specimens and 20 external control specimens from healthy individuals]. Using 2 monoclonal antibodies: the species specific and the Chlamydia genus-specific antibody. Three PCR assays are used for detection of C. pneumoniae DNA: Single-step PCR with different DNA polymerases enzymes, the nested PCR, and real-time quantitative PCR. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in 58. 8% of atherosclerotic vascular tissues by single-step PCR which used Tag DNA polymerase and detection by hybridization with specific probe, no detection by other methods and also no detection in healthy vascular tissues. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in atherosclerotic vascular tissues and no detection in healthy vascular tissues indicating that C. pneumoniae is playing a role in atherogenesis. Detection of C. pneumoniae is method dependent, so, the choice of assay I is of major importance when evaluating a relationship between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Enhanced expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling-1 in hepatic cells and its role in response to interferon therapy

Expression of Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling-1 [SOCS-1] in liver tissues of chronic hepatitis C patients [CMC] and to assess whether SOCS-1 had any relationship to resistance to interferon-a [INF-alpha] therapy. RT-PCR was done on hepatic tissues obtained from 42 CMC patients before starting of INF-alpha therapy and 26 controls without CMC with normal livers for detection of SOCS-1 mRNA. And also, on serum samples collected from CMC patients at the end of treatment by INF-alpha to assess respond to therapy. SOCS-1 expression in hepatic tissues of CMC patients in a significant higher incidences than controls [p<0.0001]. The response to INF- alpha therapy was found in [30.9%] of CMC patients. There is over-expression of SOCS-1 in hepatic tissues from non-responders to INF- alpha therapy [96.6%]. SOCS-1 expression is enhanced in the livers of CMC patients and involved in resistance to INF- alpha therapy

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the lungs: CD[+4] T cells and CD[+8] T cells in peripheral blood and their relation to disease outcome

To determine the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells in peripheral blood [Pb] in the patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the lungs and to assess their roles in disease recovery. Flow cytometric analysis of the Pb from 41 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 healthy individuals as controls for determination the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells in Pb. the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells in Pb from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was higher than controls [p<0.001 and 0.05 respectively]. The frequency of CD[+4] T-cells was higher than CD[+8] T-cells in Pb of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The rate of recovery from active pulmonary tuberculosis was inversely related to the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells being higher in SR, but less in RR and IR. More CD[+8] T-cells producing IFN-y, while more CD[+4] T-cells producing IL-10. there was a higher frequency of CD[+4] T cells in Pb of active pulmonary tuberculosis. The recovery from this disease requires fine balance between CD[+4] c CD[+8] T cells in Pb

Transcranial extradural resection of pituitary adenoma with extrasellar extensions

Fifteen cases of pituitary adenomas with extrasellar extension were operated in the period from June 2003 to January 2007 in Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, nine cases were females and six cases were males with age range from 30 to 55 years. Headache [93.3%] and diminution of vision [80%] were the most common presenting symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging to the sella and computed tomography bone window sellar cuts were the basic radiologic investigations, in addition to hormonal profile were performed to all cases. Complete tumor resection was accomplished in [73.3%] of cases and cerebrospinal fluid leak was the most common complication [26.6%]

Metastasis to the thyroid gland; unusual site of metastasis

The incidence of metastasis to the thyroid gland in autopsy series varies from 1.25% to 24%. Metastasis to the thyroid gland is usually considered as a terminal event, and the effectiveness of conventional treatment has been questioned. Seven patients with metastasis to the thyroid gland were studied retrospectively. Primary tumor origin was identified in all of them. Metastasis to the thyroid gland was confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology or histology. Data were analyzed for the type of malignant lesions, the clinical course of the disease, and the prognosis after thyroid involvement. Two patients had lung as a primary tumor site. Breast, iris, kidney, parotid and soft tissue sarcoma were the involved primary sites in the other cases. The time from the diagnosis of primary tumor to metastasis to the thyroid gland was considerable [ranged from 13-135 months, median 60 months]. Fine needle aspiration cytology detected metastasis in five of seven patients. Treatment was surgery alone or surgery with adjuvant therapy. One patient didn't receive any treatment. In any patient with a previous history of malignancy, no matter how old that history is a new thyroid mass should be considered as recurrence until proved otherwise. Although detection of metastasis to the thyroid gland often indicates poor prognosis, aggressive surgical and medical therapy may be effective in a small percentage of patients

surgical treatment of trigeminal schwanomas

Thirteen cases of trigeminal schwanomas were operated upon in the period from February 2003 to August 2006 in Kasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, seven females and six males with age-range from 35 to 60 years. All patients have presented with trigeminal dysfunction manifestations, brain magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography with petrous bone window were performed to all cases. The frontotemporal epidural approach was performed in all cases, complete surgical resection was achieved in ten cases [77%], worsening of the trigeminal nerve functions were the most common immediate postoperative complications encountered

role of interleukin 16 in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by hyperplasia of the synovium and excessive cellular infiltration, which leads to progressive joint destruction. We analyzed, interleukin 16 [IL16], in relation to disease activity to characterize its biologic function in RA. Secreted IL-16 was measured by enzyme immunoassay in sera from 30 RA patients and 30 healthy controls [HC], and also in synovial fluid [SF] from 16 RA patients and 15 patients with non-RA synovitis as controls. IL-16 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC] was characterized by flow cytometric analysis after intracellular cytokine staining for IL-16. In synovial tissue specimens, both were done: Immunohistochemistry for localization of IL-16, and histopathology, in which the tissue scored semiquantitatively for synovial hyperplasia and cellular infiltration. IL-16 was detected at significantly higher levels in sera and SF of RA patients in comparison to HC and non-RA synovitis [p<0.001 and p<0.0001 respectively]. Also, IL-16 was detected significantly higher in SF in comparison to sera in RA patients [p<0.001]. Flow cytometry of PBMC showed that a great proportion of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells expressed IL-16 protein. Also, immunohistochemistry revealed more CD4+ and less frequency of CD8+ cells in synovial infiltration. A significant correlation between IL-16 expression and local inflammatory activity could not be established [p>0.21] by microscopic analysis of the synovial cells infiltrate. In addition, no significant association was observed between serum, SF, and synovial tissue expression of IL-16 and clinical disease activity in RA [p>0.61, p>0.5 and p>0.42 respectively]. This indicated that, IL-16 played a regulatory rather than a proin-flammatory role in the immunopathogenesis of RA

Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis: a brief clinical report on a bedouin girl

This report describes a case of osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis [OS-CS] in a Bedouin girl. This patient to our knowledge is the first case to be reported in KMGC, throwing light on the clinical and radiological findings. Clinical examination, skeletal survey, echocardiography, ultrasonography and chromosomal study. The patient had craniofacial dysmorphic features including overgrowth of the craniofacial bones which is characteristic of the disorder, developmental delay, hearing impairment, congenital heart [VSD] and she had also repeated attacks of seizures. Radiographic findings included marked ossification and sclerosis of the base of the skull and metaphyseal widening of long bones with linear striations. In the few reported cases of OS-CS all over the world, our case could have the typical form of the syndrome with dominant inheritance and the first case to be described in Kuwait

Comparative pharmacological study of haloxylon salicornicum acute, non bunge and arthrocnemum glaucum [Del] ung-sterub on isolated skeletal muscle preparations

The two plants under investigation were reported to have some traditional uses, e.g. H. salicornicum is used by the Bedouins in the remedy of coryza and as food in time of famine, while A. Glaucum is used in the remedy of anuria and to increase menstruation. The present study examined in a comparative fashion the pharmacological effects of these plants on isolated rectus abdominis muscle of the toad and rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation through their variable extracts. Th materials used in this study were the aqueous solutions of the dried ethanolic extracts of the overground parts, the hydrochloric acid solutions of the dried chloroformic soluble alkaloidal fractions and the aqueous solutions of the dried chloroformic insoluble alkaloidal fractions of the two plants. It was found that the dried ethanolic extract of H. Salicornicum relaxed the rectus and diaphragm muscles while that of A. glaucoma stimulated both preparations. The hydrochloric acid solution of chloroformic-soluble alkaloidal fractions of both plants relaxed the rectus and rat diaphragm muscles, while the aqueous solution of the dried chloroformic insoluble alkaloidal fractions of the two plants possessed anticholinesterase activity on both the rectus and rat diaphragm muscles. These pharmacological actions can explain the reported effects of both plants and their uses in folk medicine

Immunoglobulin E in some intestinal parasitic infections

48 patients and 10 control subjects were studied. Their ages ranged from 6.5-60 years. 15 patients were bilharzial; 10 non ascitic and 5 ascitic; 9 patients with ascariasis; 6 patients with oxyuris, 6 withgiradiasis; 6 with H. nana and 6 patients with trichostrongyloides. The control group consisted of 10 apparently normal subjects. All cases were subjected ta thorough history taking, clinical examination, urine and stool analyses, sigmoidoscopy and mucosal biopsy, complete blood picture, ESR and immunoglobin E estimation. There was significant increase in IgE levels in all parasitic infections except in H. nana group. The highly significant elevation was found in ascariasis and bilharzial group [specially the non ascitic cases]. The triad of anemia, raised ESR and high level of IgE may be a feature of some parasitic infections; namely bilharziasrs, ascariasis, oxyuriasis and trichostrongyloides. IgE estimation may be a useful parameter in the diagnosis and follow up of cases with bilharziasis as well as other parasites, higher levels being obtained with ascariasis [which can be excluded by stool analysis] and bilharzial cases where diagnosis is sometimes difficult. As individual parasitic infections were found to raise IgE level, it is expected that mixed parasitic infestations may raise IgE and this may be of diagnostic value and usefulness in follow up of these infections